WA poll shows election to be close

A poll of voters in key marginal West Australian seats shows the election could be closer than many anticipate, pollsters say.

A Morgan Poll surveyed 435 voters on Tuesday night in the key West Australian marginal seats of Brand, Cowan, Hasluck, Stirling and Swan.

In the five seats, the poll put primary support for the Liberals at 44 per cent, Labor 42.5 per cent, the Greens 9.5 per cent, One Nation one per cent and independents and others at three per cent.

On a two-party preferred basis support for the Liberals was at 50.5 per cent and Labor on 49.5 per cent - a swing of 0.8 per cent to the Liberals since the 2004 election.

Roy Morgan executive chairman Gary Morgan said the poll of voting intentions showed the result would be closer than expected.

"It shows the election is going to be much closer than a lot of polls suggest, it shows that in Perth for instance, the Liberals will retain Hasluck and Stirling and there's a chance they will win Swan, Cowan or Brand," Mr Morgan said.

The swing to the Liberals could prove crucial to Labor's chances of winning the election, he said.

"Of course that would have a major effect on the election because it makes it more difficult for Labor to win the election," Mr Morgan said.

Labor needs to pick up 16 seats across Australia to win government.

WA voters may have been influenced by concerns about the influence of Brian Burke in the state Labor government and by the activities of trade unionists, Mr Morgan said.

The Liberal party has targeted construction union leaders in advertising warning of a union-dominated Labor government.

"I think the people in Western Australia, the West Australian electors, have some concerns about the state government with the scandal there with people like Brian Burke and political trade union members that have been expelled by the Labor Party," Mr Morgan said.

Last week WA Premier Alan Carpenter moved to expel Labor MP Shelley Archer, the wife of CFMEU state secretary Kevin Reynolds, after it was found she made false statements during a parliamentary inquiry and was influenced by disgraced former premier Brian Burke.